A great line up of stock on a grey day at Drymen

Sensing that the day was not going to improve, the judges hit the ground running, and the results were all but wrapped up before midday, whereupon everyone ran for cover. There were no surprises as Stephanie Dick's now veteran Limousin show cow Stephick Mistique, topped its breed, the beef section, and proceeded to take the overall. Born in 2016, by the Ronick stock bull, Rathconville Eugene, Mistique stood reserve female as well as reserve supreme at last year's Great Yorkshire Show, and was overall champion at Perth.

Just pipped for the overall was the dairy section winner from William Hamilton and Sons, of Meldrum Farm, Blair Drummond, the senior Holstein cow Hawksland Gerard Diana 3, by Schillview Oman Gerard, from a dam by Sandy Valley Bolton, that made 16,500litres last year, and is currently making 67kg a day.

Also of note in the cattle were a clutch of rosettes for the Logans of Greenhead farm, who topped the Highlanders with their two-year-old heifer Ban-Iarla Morag 9th of Blairlogan, by Logan Of Muingairigh out of Morag 4th, and also took reserve in the Black and Dun Galloways, although top honours in both that section, and the Belted Galloways, went to Balfron's Harvey Brothers.

In the sheep section, James Graham, of Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blair Drummond, took the overall with a Blackface ewe and lamb, homebred from homebred sire and dam, although the headline news would have to be the strong showing of the Zwartbles breed, which took up the pen space formerly occupied by the more overtly commercial continental breeds, and produced a worthy winner for BH and D Gibson, of Three Views, Gartocharn, for their ewe Somerwood Daphne, by East Middle Best Mate out of a Somerwood dam, shown with lamb at foot.

Leading awards

Dairy (Judge: J McAllister, Rothesay). Champion – W Hamilton and Sons, Meldrum Farm, Blair Drummond, with senior Holstein Friesian cow Hawksland Gerard Diana 3. Reserve –W Brewster, Wester Borland Thornhill with their junior cow, shown in-milk, Letterkenny Smoken Kate. Heifer, senior cow, pairs, bred – W Hamilton and Son. Junior cow – W Brewster.

Aberdeen Angus (Judge: J Hodge, Rothesay). Champion – D and M Lyle, Mid Cambushinnie Farm, Dunblane with their bull Logan Bar Emperor. Reserve – S Dick, Westerton Farm, Stirling with the heifer, Crew Destiny, which was bred by Samantha Allen and Allen Shortt, by Hallington Evo out of the 2012 All-Ireland senior heifer winner, Crew Dakota. Bull, bred –D and M Lyle. Heifer – S Dick.

Highland cattle (Judge: S Campbell, Dalmally). Champion – Blairlogan Highlanders/D Logan, Greenhead Farm, Alva with two-year-old heifer Ban-Iarla Morag 9th of Blairlogan. Reserve – J and C McKechnie, France Farm, Gartocharn, with yearling heifer Kirsty 5th of Gartocharn, by Brogach 2nd Of Balmoral out of Kirsty Morag Of Ubhaidh. Cow in-milk, calf, yearling heifer, interbreed pair reserve – J and C McKechnie. Cow in-calf, two-year-old heifer, pair – Blairlogan Highlanders. Senior heifer – A Prentice, 8 Westbank, Ravenstruther. Junior bull – Burns Family, Tippetcraig Farm, High Bonnybridge.

Galloway: Black and Dun (Judge: J Hodge) Champion– G and S Harvey, 100 Buchanan Street, Balfron with their four-year-old cow, Harveys Zsa Zsa, by Blackcraig Kodiak out of Ben Lomond Vimto. Reserve – Rogan Galloways/D Logan Greenhead Farm, Alva, with two-year-old heifer Barlaes Katie 82nd, by Watchman of Kilnstown and and carrying a calf to Penninghame Winward. Reserve overall at Kilmalcolm, Katie will be shown at the Highland and Great Yorkshire. Cow – G and S Harvey. Heifer – Rogan Galloways.

Galloway: Belted and White (Judge: J Hodge) Champion – W Allan with heifer, Cessintully Coco. Heifer – W Allan.

Hereford (Judge: J Hodge). Champion and reserve – G and S Harvey, 100 Buchanan Street, Balfron, with their heifers, Harvey Bros 1 Crocus Rose – the first calf bred from Sophie Harvey’s heifer Harvey Bros Crocus N1 – and Harvey Bros 1 Crocus R 5. Heifer, bull – G and S Harvey.

Other native cattle (Judge: J Hodge). Champion – J R Galloway, Cardona Farm, Doune with his 13-month-old Riggit Galloway bull, Barfil Billy. By Twomills Reiver Boy out Barfil Flower Girl, Billy was on his forst show outing. Reserve – R Taylor, Knockraich Farm, Fintry, with Shorthorn cow, Castlemount Matrix Princess. Cow, calf – R Taylor. Heifer, bull – J R Galloway.

Limousin (Judge: E MacGillivray Snr, Oban). Champion – S Dick, Westerton Farm, Stirling, with Stephick Mistique, the 2016-born cow, by Rathconville Eugene. Reserve – D McBeath and J Jessop, Lower Greenyards Farm, Bannockburn with their two-year-old heifer, Castle Mill Oasis Nancy. Junior bull – A McAllister, Blairmore Farm, Balfron. Two-year-old heifer, yearling heifer, interbreed pair champion – D McBeath and J Jessop. Cow – S Dick. Calf – A Weir, Castlecary Mill Farm, Bonnybridge.

Charolais (Judge: A Adam, Glamis). Champion – R McNeill and J Rettie, 28 Castle Hill, Doune, with yearling heifer, Formakin Opal, by the French-bred bull Hercule out of the Balthayock Matthew-daughter and Stars of the Future class winner Formakin Licorice, bought from the McMurrich Partnership for 5800gns at the breed's 2019 spring sale. Reserve: D and M Lyle with their bull. Cow, two-year-old heifer – G Russell, LesliePark Farm, Denny. Bull – D and M Lyle. Yearling heifer: R McNeill and J Rettie.

Other continental cattle (Judge: A Adam). Champion and reserve – R and M Paterson, Auchenlay Farm, Dunblane, leading with yearling British Blue bull, Auchenlay Nimrod, by Highland Show champion Sandyvale Jaegerbomb out of Auchenlay Hope, on his first time out. The Paterson's reserve was Nippy Sweetie, by the same bull as the champion, out of Auchenlay Jess. Bull, heifer – R and M Paterson.

Commercial beef (Judge: A Adam). Champion – S and L Bett, Newmills Farmhouse, Fallin, with Continental-bred heifer, Queen Bee. Reserve – A Dunn, Redhall Farm, Gargunnock, with a cow and calf. Continental steer, continental heifer – S and L Bett. Beef cow with calf – A Dunn.

Blueface Leicester (Judge: M Thornborrow, Peebles). Champion – Messrs McGregor, Allanfauld Farm, Kilsyth, with a tup lamb, by L12 Blarnavaid out of a dam by H4 Drimsynie. Reserve – J Pirie, Blarnavaid Farm, Drymen, with a ewe hogg by a £37,000 Midlock out of an F1 Firth dam, on its first show outing. Tup lamb, ewe lamb, group, bred – Messrs McGregor. Yearling tup, ewe hogg – J Pirie. Ewe with lamb – R Steel, Kepculloch Farm, Balfron.

Scotch mule (Judge: M Thornborrow). Champion – D McKenzie, Ardgate, with a ewe lamb by a Blarnavaid tup, destined for sale at UA in September. Reserve – Messrs McGregor with the Firth-bred ewe that was interbreed champion at Dunbland and first-placed at the Highland last year. Ewe lamb, pen – D McKenzie. Pair ewe lambs – M Smyth, Shields Farm, Milton of Campsie. Ewe hogg, ewe – Messrs McGregor.

Suffolk (Judge: A Barr, Easter Bucklyvie, Fife). Champion – R Bryce, Chalmerston Farm, Stirling, with a homebred four crop ewe, by Cairnorrie Olympic Bolt out of a ewe by Cairnorrie Campbell, on its first time out – although its breeding is the same as the Bryces' 2018 show-winner. Reserve – D Tulloch Jnr, Rigfoot Farm, Uplawmoor, with a ewe hogg. Tup, ewe and lamb, tup lamb, ewe lamb, group – R Bryce. Ewe hogg – D Tulloch Jnr.

Blackface (Judge: M Coubrough, Biggar). Champion – J Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, with a ewe, by a home-bred sire and dam, shown with lambs at foot, on her first time out. Reserve –J W Bennie and Sons, Merkins Farm, Gartocharn, with an aged clipped tup. Aged tup clipped and unclipped, ewe lamb, best fleece – J W Bennie and Sons. Tup clipped, ewe hogg clipped – J Jackson, Pole Farm, Lochgoilhead. Tup unclipped – E McMillan, Lurg Farm, Fintry. Ewe with lambs, bred – J Graham. Ewe hogg unclipped, tup lamb, group – Messrs McGregor.

Shetland (Judge: D Wilson, Newmains). Champion – JC and R Steven, Rosebank, Currie with a white aged tup. Reserve – S Russell, 18 Queens Court, Irvine, with a gimmer. White and coloured aged tup, white and coloured shearling tup, white ewe with lamb, tup lamb, group –JC and R Steven. Coloured ewe with lamb, ewe lamb, gimmer; best fleece – S Russell.

Texel (Judge: N McGowan, Alyth). Champion – D and M Steel, Braevalloch, Fintry, with an aged tup. Reserve – R Kinloch, Ardoch Farm, Cardross with a tup lamb. Aged tup, ewe lamb – D and M Steel. Ewe hogg, group – S Rankin, Deerdyke Cottage, Cumbernauld. Tup lamb – R Kinloch.

Continental sheep (Judge: N McGowan). Champion – L Daff, Greenside Cottage, Uplawmoor, with a one-crop Rouge ewe, Bennachie Trina, by Gerigne Fernand, purchased privately from Pat Imlah. Trina was Rouge champion at the Great Yorkshire and supreme continental champion at the Welsh last year, and is entered for the Highland, Yorkshire and Welsh Welsh again this year. Reserve – D Allan, Ballochneck, Buchlyvie, with a Beltex ewe hogg. Aged tup, ewe and lamb, tup lamb –L Daff. Shearling tup – S Allan, Camoquholm, Balfron. Ewe hogg – D Allan. Ewe lamb, group –R Kinloch.

Commercial sheep (Judge: I Campbell, Milnathorpe). Champion – R H Steel and Sons, Wester Mye Farm, Buchlyvie, with a ewe and twin cross lambs. Reserve – T Buchanan, Wester Kepdowrie Farm, Buchlyvie, with a cross bred ewe. Pair of prime lambs, ewe with twin cross lambs – R H Steel and Sons. Ewe with cross lamb –JS and J MacDougall, High Milndovan Farm, Cardross. Blackface ewe and lamb – M Smyth, Shields Farm, Milton of Campsie. Blackface ewe with twin lambs – P McNicoll, Gartincaber Farm, Drymen. Cross bred hogg and ewe – T Buchanan.

Zwartbles (Judge: F Brown Bowes). Champion – BH and D Gibson, Three Views, Gartocharn, with Somerwood Daphne, a ewe by East Middle Best Mate out of a Somerwood dam, shown with lamb at foot. Reserve – McLaren and Baird, Greystone Cottage, Dunblane with a Greystone Fauna, a gimmer out of Greystone Willow. Aged tup, shearling tup, tup lamb – N Henderson, Whitehouse Farm Cottage, Touch. Ewe with lamb, ewe lamb – BH andD Gibson. Ewe hogg, group – McLaren and Baird.

Young handler sheep class: under 10 yrs: Cameron Barclay, eight years old. 11 to 16 yrs: Robbie Brown, Islay, 12 years old.

Clydesdales (Judge: G Skinner, Aberdeen). Champion – C Young, Hall Farm, Ayr with yeld Mare, Glebeview Lady Izzy, by Glebeview Sir Charles out of Glebeview Cassie. Reserve – J M McMillan, Greenan Mill, Rothesay, with yearling filly Mill Lady Beth, by Collessie Whinhill President out of Inny Ann-Marie. Senior gelding – B Lindsay, Lesmahagow. Yeld Mare, two-year-old filly – C Young. Two-year-old colt/gelding – F Filshie, Molochan Cottage, Luss. Yearling filly, best yearling, two-year-old colt/filly, bred – J M McMillan.

Heavy horse turnout (Judge: G Skinner). Champion – C Young’s team with Jim and Buck. Single turnout – A Noble, Peggyslee Farm, Penicuik with Peggyslee Buddy. Pair or team turnout – C Young.

Highland ponies (Judge: Mrs A McLeod Aberfeldy). Champion – A Baird with yearling filly, Whitefield Queen Anastasia. Reserve – J Richardson with three-year-old old gelding, Lagalarve Loch Morar. Stallion, ridden – H Dick, Flourish Farm, Inchinnan. Yeld mare – J and J Bonar, 39 Vere Terrace, Kirkmuirhall. Gelding three years and over – J Richardson. Filly three years – J Alexander, Fourmerk, Kippen. Filly/gelding two years – L Wright, Blairmore Farm, Balfron. Yearling filly/colt/gelding – A Baird.